Identification and recording device



Oct, 11, 193s. E w DAVIS Er AL 2,132,403

IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING DEVICE Original F'ledMarch 6, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. l1, 1938. E. w. DAVIS ET AL IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING DEVICE Original Filed Mrch 6, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 11, 1938. E. w. DAVIS a-r A1. 2,132,403

IDNTIFTGTON AND RECORDING DEVICE Original Filed March 6, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 E. W. DAVIS ET AL IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING DEVICE Original Filed `March 6. 1935 xu llene.

Oct. l1, '1938,

Patented Oct. 11, y1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING DEVICE Application March 6, 1935, Serial No. 9,627 Renewed September 21, 1937 37 Claims.

This application is a' continuation in part of our copending application, Serial No. 568,048, led October 10, 1931, as to all common subject-matter.

'Ihe present invention relates to a method and apparatus for use in mercantile establishmentsto record or print identifying indicia from a detachable identification token adapted to be retained and carried by the person or customer to be identitled.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a recording or printing machine for transferring identifying indicia from a quickly attachable and detachable printing roller or token to a blank or other legend-receiving medium placed in contact therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated which may be actuated by a simple, manual operation to move an identification token through a predetermined cyclic path to record indicia on a blank and then render the token accessible for quick removal and substitution by another.

Another object of the invention is to provide machine of the type indicated comprising a carriage and printing roller adapted for travel across a platen and having means for rotating the roller during the movement of the carriage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated with controlling means for holding a pivotally mounted carriage in a printing or recording position during its movement across a yieldable arcuate platen to insure a completion of a printing operation before the carriage can be moved to an inoperative position away from the platen where the printing element is accessible for detachment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated which is selective to receive only detachable printing tokens intended for use therewith even though applicable to a plurality of other similar machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated having means for locking a printing roller in operative position during its movement across a platen and for releasing the roller upon movement away from the platen where the roller is readily accessible for de- Atachmentl Another object of the invention is to provide a printing roller for use in a machine of the type indicated with means for sheathing and locking it vin a protective casing whereby it is removable therefrom only by application to a particular machine in the custody of an authorized person.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a printing roller adapted to be rotatably supported on a carriage of a machine of the type indicated and having means for quick attachment in locking engagement with a rotating element on s the carriage.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated which is compact in structure, easily and quickly manipulated, efiicient and positive in operation and lo capable of extended use without repair or adjustment.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the machine and ,5 printing roller, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the recording or printing machine incorporating the 20 novel features of the present invention and showing the position of the carriage and printing roller vduring their movement across the platen of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the machine showing 25 the "carriage moved away from the planten to render the printing roller accessible for detachment;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the machine shown partly in section to illustrate the relation- 30 ship of the printing roller and platen during a printing operation;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional viewof the machine taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1 and showing the pivotal mounting of the carriage on the base; 35

Fig. 5 is a pian view of the base of the machine showing the guiding grooves for controlling the movement of the carriage;

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view of the driving spindle of the machine showing a token or printto ing roller in position prior to its attachment thereto and illustrating the printing roller as sheathed and locked in a protective casing;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the token positioned in contact with the driving spin- 45 dle with the printing roller locked in driving engagement therewith and the casing released from porting and centering the free end of the printing roller;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 9 showing the embracing bearingin its closed operative position engaging the printing roller Fig. 11 is a detailed perspective view of the inkroll cradle;

Fig. 12 is a detailed perspective view of the cradle-support and actuator for the roll-embracing bearing;

Fig. 13 is an end view of the driving spindle showing the locking means for the roller; and

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the detachabl printing roller.

Department stores and other merchandizing establishments having large clienteles generally furnish each charge customer with some sort of token or coin bearing indicia by means of which the customer may be identified to clerks or employees. With such a system in use the token is shown to the salesperson at the time of a purchase and the clerk iills out the charge or sales slip with data furnished by the customer.

Another more advanced method of handling charge accounts in large mercantile establishments is to furnish the customer with a at metal printing plate having raised characters thereon embodying indicia for identifying the holder and also adapted to print and record the required information on sales or charge slips. Usually, the name and address of the customer against whose account the goods are to be charged, and in some instances the number or distinguishing symbol of the account, are embossed in type or characters on the face of the plate. With this form of token the required information may be recorded by placing the plate in a suitable press or apparatus which imprints its indicia on the charge slip by means of carbon paper or an inked ribbon.

The previously used methods above described have certain disadvantages in that the small coinlike token is easily mislaid or lost and may sometimes fail into the hands of an unauthorized and unscrupulous person. Such coin-shaped tokens are also likely to be confused with currency carried in the purse or pocketbook and therefore are not adapted for convenient and ready use. the case of printing plates, these must neeessariiy be of relatively thin metal in order to economiae in weight and lthus they are apt to be bent or broken. Moreover, such plates have sharp edges and corners which are liable to inflict injury to the hand or to tear the lining of the purse or pocketbook in which they are carried.

The present invention relates generally to an improved construction of identiication token and cooperating printing apparatus which eliminates the disadvantages heretofore-experienced. The novel identification token of the present invention is in the form of a small quick-detachable printing roller sheathed and locked in a hollow with a driving element.

through a cyclic path across the platen to perform a printing operation and then away from the platen to a position where the printing .roller is accessible for detachment. The carriage also has means for inking and rotating the roller during its movement. 'I'he machine is so constructed and arranged as to lock the printing roller to the driving element during its movement across the platen and to automatically release the roller upon movement away from the platen where it is available for removal.

Referring first to Flg. 14 of the drawings, the identification token or printing roller 2 is here shown as comprising a cylindrical body member 3, preferably of metal, having curved type-characters 4 on its periphery arranged in longitudinal rows to provide the desired indicia to be printed. The characters 4 may be provided on the periphery of the roller by embossing, soldering or molding them upon a detachable supporting element or strip adapted to be locked in longitudinal grooves spaced around the periphery of the roller in the manner disclosed in our prior application or by any other suitable method.

A driving collar 5 at one end of the roller 2 may be formed integral therewith or made as a separate element and fixed thereon as disclosed in our prior application. 'I'he driving collar 5 is recessed asy at 6 to form a generally annular end wall 1 having an interior at ledge or seat 8 and a marginal notch 9 in the end for selective locking engagement with an operating element of the machine as will later appear. Adjacent its outer end the collar 5 is provided with an annular fiange or rib I which extends radially from its periphery. At its opposite end the roller is provided with a bearing collar II of suitable construction to be engaged by a supporting bearing.

The printing roller 2 is sheathed and locked in a cylindrical casing I2, shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8, to protect the type faces and conceal the indicia on its periphery to thereby prevent fradulent use by an unauthorized holder. The printing roller 2 is inserted through the open end of the casing i2 and is locked in place therein by the engagement of the iiange i0 with an interior locking groove i3 in thecasing. To facilitate the insertion of the roller 2 the inner rim of the open end of the casing i2 is rounded or beveled at i4 and provided with a plurality of spaced longitudinal slits to form yielding ngers i5. The annular flange Ill on the roller 2 is correspondingly beveled on one side at I6 to adapt it to slide under the rounded or beveled edge It of the casing at which time the :fingers I yield to spring outwardly away from the ange. As the ange it is engaged with the groove I3 the fingers i5 spring back into close contact with the collar 5. The groove I3 and flange I0 preferably encompass the driving collar 5, thus making it necessary to expand all of the spring-fingers I 5 simultaneously to free the flange I0 and permit withdrawal of the roller 2 from the casing I2. The casing I2 may be composed of any suitable impervious material and is preferably of cylindrical shape to render it distinguishable from keys and other objects with which it maybe contained in a handbag or purse. The cylindrical shape of the casing i2 is also advantageous in eliminating sharp edges, corners or projections which would tend to abrade the material of the receptacle in which it is normally carried. As shown in Fig. 6, the casing I2 forms a holder for an automatic pencil attachment I1 positioned at one end thereof so that the token may serve to perform a plurality of functions. Although the casing is intended to be opaque to prevent fraudulent use it is to be understood that the casing could as well be transparent to identify the bearer without removal of the printing roller therefrom if that type of token is desired. f

The printing roller 2 may be used in any suitable machine either handor power-operated or may be applied to use in addressing machines or the like. The present invention provides a novel machine particularly suitable for use in mercantile establishments in that it is small, compactv and adapted for manual operationlto print or record indicia on sales slips or for addressing tags, envelopes and other media.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the frame 22of the preferred form of the machine is constituted as an integral structure including a substantially rectangular base 23 rounded at one end and having a plurality of countersunk holes 24 adjacent the edge to adapt it to be permanently xed to of the wall 25 and intermediate its ends is an upstanding rectangular projection 28 which is recessed to provide a vertical guideway 29 having inner grooves 36 on the opposite side walls of the guideway. A backing plate 3| is slidably mounted in the grooves 36 for holding an adjustable platen 32 formed with a vertical portion or arm 36 having a sliding fit in the outer guideway 29.

The platen 32 as illustrated in Figs. 1 2 and 3 comprises a horizontally extending anvil 33 which overhangs the base 23 with an upper face 34 of arcuate contour and an under face 35 rounded and tapered to adapt a sales slip or card to be placed thereon or an envelope to be slid over its end. The depending arm 36 of the anvil 33 is preferably formed integral therewith and secured to the backing plate 3| by a pair of screws 31 extending through countersunk holes 38 in the arm and engaging alined threaded holes 39 in the plate. The platen 32 is yieldingly urged upward by means of spaced compression springs 46 positioned in pockets 4| in the base of the frame 22 of the machine and -pockets 42 formed between the backing plate 3| and the arm 36. The upward movement of the platen 32 is limited by an adjusting screw 43 extending through the base 23 between the springs 46 with its shank in threaded engagement with a tapped hole in a swivel-block 45 fixed to the arm 36; the head of the screw being seated in a countersunk recess 44 in the base. The anvil 33 may be adjusted vertically to any desired position by turning the adjusting screw 43 whereafter it is locked by tightening a set-screw 46 in the block 45 against the shank of the adjusting screw. The rearward face of the depending arrn 36 is cut away as at 41 so that the platen 32 may have a limited swinging movement on the attaching screws 31 to provide `for horizontal adjustment to level the anvil 33. To this end set-screws 48 extend through the arm 36 and into the engagement with the backing plate 3|. The platen is resiliently mounted for vertical `movement to accommodate printing blanks of varying thickness and to insure an even impression of the legend on the work.

A carriage 56, including a body portion 5| and a depending spherical bearing element 52,

is pivotally mounted on the base 23 for movement about two axes extending at right-angles to each other. 'I'he bearing 52 is comprised of a depending hollow spherical part 53 formed integral with the body portion 5| and a cooperating hemisphere 54, the two parts having corresponding interiitting projections 55 and 56 on opposite sides thereof. The two cooperating elements 53 and 54 are connected by a pin 51 which passes through the intertting projections 55 and 56 and constitutes an axial mounting on which the carriage 56 may rotate. The pin 51 is held in operative position with respect to the spherical bearing 52 by means of a setscrew 58 extending through an aperture in the hemisphere 54 and engaging an annular tapered groove 59 in the pin. The spherical bearing 52 is slotted on opposite sides at 66 and 6|, see Fig. 4, and the slots lie in a plane normal to the pin 51.

As shown in Fig. 1, the spherical bearing 52 is pivotally mounted on the base 23 by means of aframe 64 having a centrally-positioned .bearing hub 65 which embraces the pin 51 and trunnion-arms 66 and 61, shown in Fig. 4, extending at right-angles to the axis of the hub vand outwardly through the slots 66 and 6| in the spherical bearing. The sides of the trunnion-arms 66 and 61 areflattened to engage the sides of the slots 66 and 6| and their ends 68 and 69 are mounted in bearings 16 and 1| carried by stanchions 12 and 13. The stanchions 12 and 13 are positioned in recesses 14 and 15 formed in the outer face of the wall 25 of the frame 22 on opposite sides thereof and xed thereto by screws 16. The hub 65 isarranged with its ends abutting spaced walls 18 and 19 in the hollow lower hemisphere 54 of the bearing 52 with a bushing 11 in its bore serving as a bearing for the pin 51. The frame 64 also includes an arcuate rack 86 that extends between the trunnion-arms 66 and 61 and about an axis at the center of the hub 65 and pin 51. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the axis of the trunnion-arms 66 and 61 extends at right-angles to the axis of the arcuate face 34 of the platen 32, and the platen is so adjusted vertically with respect to the trunnions that the pin 51, when horizontally positioned, lies in and forms'a continuation of the axis of the arcuate face of the platen. With the spherical bearing 52 so mounted on the base 23 the carriage 56 may be rotated on the pin 51 for movement across the platen 32 on an axis common with the axis of the face 34 of the platen and it may also be rotated on the trunnion-arms 66 and 61 to a. position away from the platen, as shown in Fig. 2.

Although the carriage 56 has a gimbal mounting to adapt it for movement about two axes at right-angles to. each other, its motion is controlled by a bearing roller 8| which engages a slot 82 and guideways 83 formed in the base 23 or a track 84 adjacent the upper edge of the circular wall 25, see Figs. 1 and 5. 'I'he bearing roller 6| has its shank mounted in an antfriction or roller bearing 85 at the bottom of the hemisphere 54 and when it is engaged in the slot 82 it holds the pivot-pin 51 in a horizontal position during the pivotal movement of the carriage 56 across the platen` face 34. As shown in Fig. 5, the slot 82 in the base '23 is of substantial length and engages and holds the roller 8| during a complete movement of the carriage across the top of the platen 32 so that the printing roller will print a complete and uniform impression on the blank. A hardened bearing plate 86 is fixed within the slot 82 on the side which takes the thrust of the roller 8| to reduce the wear between the parts. At the ends of the slot 82 the plate 86 is cut away at 62 and thelbase recessed to allow engagement of the roller 8l with the guideways 83 which are of curved formation and extended upwardly to meet in an apex at 81, see Fig. 5. The guideways 83 act to direct the bearing roller 8| into the slot 82 when the carriage50is moved from its vertical inoperative position to its horizontal lprinting position. During this movement of the carriage 50 the bearing roller 8| is shifted from engagement with the circular track 84 to engagement with the slot 82 at one end thereof. A buffer 88, constituted by an arcuate strip of soft rubber or the like, is mounted on the at part of the base 23 between the `ends of the wall 25 to cushion the shock when the carriage 50 is moved from its horizontal to its vertical position at the completion of a printing operation.

The body portion 5| of the carriage 50 is in the form of a hood 89 which extends laterally to a position overlying the platen face 34. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the hood 89 is of generally rectangular form having side walls 90 and 9|, a crowned top wall 92 and end walls 93 and 94. Between the end walls 93 and 94 is a septum 95 or partition wall which, with the rearward end wall 94, provide housings for the driving spindle 96 as next described.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the spindle 96 is journaled in antifriction roller bearings 91 and 98 held in bores in the septum 95 and end wall 94, respectively. The spindle 96 extends laterally above the arcuate rack 80 and has its periphery formed with gear-teeth 99 which engage the teeth on the rack. Through the above described gearand-rack connection the spindle 96 is rotated by the oscillatory movement of the carriage 50 about the pin 51, and due to theY engagement of the flattened sides of the trunnion-arms 66 and 61 with the slots 60 and 6| the rack 80 is always held in an operative position with respect to the spindle 95. The ratio between the gear-teeth 99 on the spindle 96 and the teeth of the rack il@ is such that the printing roller 2 when rotatably clutched to the spindle 96 is caused to roll acrossthe face 34 of the platen 32 with a complete revolution during the pivotal movement oi? the carriage 5t between prescribed limits.

The printing roller 2 is adapted to be clutched in driving engagement with the end o the spindle 95 by means carried therein.v To this end the spindle 95 is axially bored throughout its length as at |85 with two stepped counterbores 366 and |01 as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and l8. An axial plunger E00 is mounted in.V the spindle 96, being formed with a reduced portion or shank |09 in the bore |95, an enlarged collar H@ in the counterbore |86 and a reduced centering head in the counterbore |91 projecting outwardly beyond the forward end'of the spindle. The collar H0 forms a shoulder ||2 adapted to engage the shoulder H3 between the bore |05 and counterbore |06, and the shank or rod |09 is of `such length that its end ||4 extends beyond the rearits ends held in the walls of the spindle Il. The pin ||9 extends through longitudinal slots |20 in the side portions of the head so that the head may be slid longitudinally relatively of the spindle. The lever ||8 has a tapered or rounded outer end to correspond with the conical end of the head and a detent-shoulder |2| adapted to be projected outwardly from the cut-away or flatted side |I5 of the head. Intermediate its ends the lever ||8 has a cam-slot |22 engaged by a pin |23 which extends across the slot ||1 with its ends held in opposite sides of the head Within the larger counterbore |01 at the forward end of the spindle 96 there is positioned an annular collar |25 having an internal diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the collar 5 on the end of the printing roller 2. Within the collar |25 is a sleeve |26 enclosing the centering head on the plunger |08 and of such length as to leave an annular recess |21 at the end of the spindle 96 for receiving the circular wall 1 of the collar 5 on the printing roller 2. I'he circular collar |25 and the sleeve |26 are fixed to the driving spindle 96 for rotation therewith by means ot radial pins |28 held in position by the projecting end of the fixed sleeve |29 of the bearing 91 which surrounds the end of the spindle. 'I'he edge |30 of the collar |25 is beveled or tapered on its periphery to engage under the inner beveled edge |4 of the spring-fingers I5 at the end of the casing I2. The end of the sleeve |26 is provided with a projection or key |3| of a contour corresponding to the contour of the notch 9 on the end of the driving collar 5 of the printing roller 2.

A helical spring |32 is held under compression between the end of the sleeve |26 xed to the spindle 96 and a shoulder |33 on the plunger |08. The spring |32 normally urges the plunger head inwardly to move the pin |23 carried thereby toward the offset end of the cam-slot |22 so that the free end of the latching lever ||8 is projected outwardly from the flat side of the head as shown in Fig. 6. In this normal position of the centering head the detent-shoulder |2| on the latching lever ilo is adapted to engage the seat B within the driving collar 5 of the printing roller 2 to clutch lt to the spindle. However, when the plunger itil is moved longitudinally of the spindle 95 toward the outer end thereof the pin |23 in the cam-slot |22 will rock the lever H about the pivot-pin H9 to withdraw the detent-shoulder |23 from engagement with the drivlng collar 5. When withdrawn the latching lever lies within the slot ||1 in an inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 8.

The ilat side H5 of the centering head and the projection lill on the sleeve |26 provide for selective locking engagement of authorized printing rollers with the operating mechanism of the particular machine for which they are intended. With the notched recess 9 and internal ledge or seat 8 alined respectively with the at side H5 of the centering head and the projection |3| on the sleeve |26, the printing roller 2 can be moved axially to.a position shown in Fig. '1. In this position the seat 8 on the printing roller 2 is in a position to be engaged by the Ytapered end of the latching lever ||8 when the latter is projected outwardly from the centering head Hi. On the other hand, if the notch 9 is not in register with the projection |3| the printing roller 2 cannot be moved into the recess |21 to a position where the latching lever ||8 will engage the seat or ledge 8. It will be understood that the machines used by different establishments will have the projection I3| on the sleeve |26 differently positioned with respect to the iiat side I I5 of the centering head III and the authorized printing rollers carried by the persons to be identified will have their edges notched to correspondwith the projections on the machine or plurality of machines with which they are to be used.

The printing roller 2 may be automatically released when the carriage is moved away from the platen 32 by the engagement of the end ||4 of the plunger |08 with an upstanding lug |34 on the base 23 of the machine. The lug |34 has a fiat top and a beveled side being positioned on the rim of the base 23 adjacent theend of the wall 25 lto adapt it to be engaged by the end portion I I4 of the plunger |08 when the carriage-50 is rotated on the trunnion-,arms 66 and 61 in a direction away from ythe platen 32 at the completion of a printing operation. see Fig. 8. In all other positions of the carriage 50 the end ||4 of the plunger clears the base 23 due to the engagement of the bearing roller 8| with the circular track 84 adjacent the top of the wall 25. Normally, the end ||4 of the plunger |08 is moved outwardly from the spindle 96 by the spring |32 and with the free end of the latching lever ||8 projected outwardly from the side -of the centering head III, see Figs. 6 and 7.

The forward end of the printing roller 2 is held in its operative position `by a parir of pivoted jaws |38 and |39, shown in detail in Figs. 9 and .10, which serve as bearings for rotatably supporting this end of the roller. Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10, the jaws |38 and |39 are pivotally mounted on pins |40 and |4I projecting from a plate |42 which is mounted in a recess |43 on the inner face of the end wall 93 of the hood 89. 'I'he plate |42 is fastened to the wall 93 by al screw |44 whichextends through the wall. and plate and is threaded into a nut |45 having a shank passing through the plate. The nut |45 is provided with an enlarged shouldere'd head |46 opposite sides of the pivot-pins |40 and |4I,;rel spectively. The jaws |38 and |39 are held: in

proper alinement by means of curved iinsISI and |52 which slide in the groove |56 between:`

the flange |55 on the head |46 of the nut |45 and the plate I 42.

The jaws |38 and |39 are rocked about the pivot-pins |40 and |4| by the action of a pair of arms |53 and |54 arranged with their ends adapted to engage the wings |49 and |50. Adjacent their ends the arms |53 and |54 are deformed or offset outwardly to provide bearing bosses |51 and |58 which engage the inner face of the side Walls90 and 91| of the hood 89 to hold the ends properly positioned with respect to the jaws |38 and |39. When the arms |53 and |54 are moved upwardly, as shown in Fig. 9, the jaws |38 and |39 are rocked to move their arcuate edges |41 and |48 apart to an open or releasing position; and

. when the arms are moved vdownwardly to the are constituted as the sides of a forked member, being connected at their rearward ends by a cross-strip |59 to which a block |60 is riveted or |54 and block |60 form in effect a bell-crank lever that is normally urged to rock about its pivot in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, by springs |69 compressed between the septum 95 and cross-strip |59 and held in place by a pair of guide-pins I'II projecting from the cross-strip.

' In this position of the bell-crank lever the ends of the arms |53 and |54 hold the pivoted jaws |38 and |39 in engagement with the bearing collar on the printing roller 2. The bell-crank lever is actuated about its pivot in a clockwise direction by a push-rod |12 mounted in a bearing |13 in the septum 95 and a hollow bearing |14 screwed into the rearward end wall 94 of the hood 89. Ihe push-rod |12 has a hooked end |15 which engages the cross-strip |59 in the recess I6| and is shouldered at |16 intermediate its ends. Between the shoulder |16 and the hollow bearing |14 is a spring |19 which normally urges the push-rod |12 to an inoperative position. The push-rod |12 is fiatted at |11 on its opposite sides forwardly beyond its shoulder |16 to provide diametrically opposite shoulders |18 for a purpose as later explained.

A handle I 80 is provided for rocking the carriage on its pivots, the handle comprising a bifurcated lever |8| arranged with its forked portion |82 straddling the spindle 96 and its opposite end projecting outwardly through a slot |83 in the top wall 92 of the hood 89'and terminating in a knob |84 adapted to be grasped by an operator. The bifurcated end |82 of the handle |80 is pivotally mounted by means of screws |85 threaded into the sides thereof, as shown in Fig. 4, with the 'he'ads of the screws received in apertures in the sid. walls 90 and 9| vto provide for limited rotary movement of the lever |8| in the slot |83. The lever |8| has a slot |86 through which the flatted portion of the push-rod |12 passes, the slot being of such width that the shoulder |18 on the rod will engage the lever. When the handle |80 is rockedgabout its pivot to the position shown in. Fig. 2 it will engage theshoulders |18 on the push-rod I 12 to' slide the latter to rock the arms |53 and |54 to. the position shown in Fig. 9. The handle '|80 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the action of the cooperating springs |69 and |19 which urge the push-rod |12 forwardly with considerable force.

Besides functioning to actuate the pivoted-jaws |38 and |39 at the forward end of the printing roller 2 the arms |53 and |54 are also adapted to support a cradle |81 which holds an inking rollerl |88 in contact with the printing roller 2. shown in Fig. 11, the cradle |81 is of generally rectangular shapehaving side walls |89 and |90 with depending arcuate guard iianges I9| and end walls |92 and |93. The end walls |92 and |93 have flanged apertures |94 and |95 for supporting a shaft |96 on which the inking roller |88 is rotatably mounted, see Fig. 1. As illustrated in Fig, 11, the cradle |81 is constructed of two U- shaped parts having their sides joined together intermediate the end walls |92 and |93 by riveting, soldering or welding and the overlapped ends of one of the sections are offset to form bearing faces |91 and |98 which engage the inner sides of the arms |53 and |54 of the so-called bellcrank lever shown in Fig. 12. The cradle |81 is pivotally mounted between the arms |83 and |53 by means of pins 20| projecting from its sides and engaging holes 202 in the arms. To provide for detachable connection of the cradle |81 with the arms |53 and |54 the pins 28| are carried at the free ends of iiexible spring-fingers 208 having their opposite ends secured to the inner faces of the side walls of the cradle at 285. Depending finger-grips 205 formed integral with the springflngers 283 extend to a position below the side walls so that they may be grasped and pressed inwardly to withdraw the pins 20| from engagement with the arms |53 and |54 to permit removal of the cradle |81 from the hood 8S of the carriage 58.

As shown in Fig. 3, the inking roller |88 is of cylindrical shape having an axially bored central core 281 and a surrounding pad 208 of absorbent material such as felt for holding the ink. The roller |88 is journaled in the cradle |81 on a shaft |96 having its ends inserted through the ilanged apertures |94 and |95 in the end walls |92 and |93 and deformed or riveted over to hold the shaft in place. The purpose of the pivotal mounting for the cradle |81on the arms |53 and |54 is to permit the inking roller |88 to adjust itself to engage the printing roller 2 throughout its length. The cradle |81 is so positioned with respect to the spindle 38 and the bearing jaws |38 and |39 that the inking roller |88 is held in contact with the printing roller 2 when the arms .|53 and |54 are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 10, thereby insuring proper inking of the characters on the roller.` The method of operation of the complete apparatus is as next explained.

As before noted, the roller 2 is used as an identication token and recording device, the department` store or other commercial establishment furnishing each charge customer with one bearing suitable indicia such as the customers name and address and other particulars if desired. -As shown in Fig. 6, the token or printing roller 2 is sheathed and locked in the protective casing 2 by the engagement of its radial flange |0 with the internal locking groove |3 in the casing. When the same roller is to be used with a plurality of machines in different establishments the end which projects from the casing I2 is provided with a plurality of notches such as the notch 9 shown in Fig. 14, adapted to cooperate with projections |3| differently positioned on the spindles of the various machines. Upon making a purchase to be charged to his account the customer presents the token or roller 2 for the purpose of identiiication and the clerk or sales person applies it to the machine to record the sale in the manner as next explained.

With the form of printing apparatus herein illustrated the printing roller 2 is applied thereto by swinging the carriage 50 upwardly on its trunnions 66 and 61 away from the platen 32 to the position shown in Fig. 2. Under this movement the bearing roller 8| engages the track 84, see Fig. 2, and the plunger |08 is actuated by the engagement of its end ||4 with the lug |34 on the base 23 when the carriage is rocked rearwardly on the shaft 51. The longitudinal sliding movement ci.' the plunger |08 causes the detent end ci.' the latching lever ||8 to move into the slot |1 in the centering head by the action of the pin |23 sliding in the cam-slot |22, see Fig. 8. The handle |88 is then depressed to slide the plunger-rod |12 whereby to rock the bell-crank arms |53 and |58. The rocking movement of the arms |58 and |58 has the effect to rotate the jaws |38 and 288 to an open position as shown in Fig. 9. The token 2 may then be applied to the carriage 88 by directing the recess 8 in the .driving collar E over the end of the centering head iii and rotating the token until the ledge or seat 8 cooperates with the flat side ||5 of the head, at which time the driving collar 5 will enter the annular recess |21. The carriage 50 is then moved to carry the end H8 of the plunger 88 away from the lug |34 so that the spring |32 may slide the plunger to project the end of the latching lever M8 outwardly whereby to engage its datent-shoulder |2| with the internal seat 8 on the driving collar 5. During the longitudinal movement of the collar 5 into the recess |21 the beveled edge |30 of the collar |25 engages under the beveled edges |4 of the yielding ngers I5 to spring them away from the flange |0 to release the casing 2 from the roller 2. The casing I2 is then withdrawn from the roller 2 and the handle released to allow the jaws |38 and |39 to rotate to a closed position with their arcuate edges |41 and |48 embracing the bearing collar on the outer end of the roller, as shown in Fig. 10. If the driving collar 5 is not properly notched it cannot be moved into the annular recess |21 to a position where the end of the latching lever |I8 will engage the seat 8 and consequently the collar |25 canno release the casing I2 from engagement with t e printing roller 2. Each machine is therefore selective to receive only printing rollers intended for use therewith. When the proper printing roller 2 is applied it will be locked to the spindle 96 at one end and held by the jaws |38 and |39 at its other end with the characters on its periphery in contact with the inlring roller |88 which is rotatably mounted in its cradle |81 in the hood 83.

The operator next grasps'the handle |80 and rotates the carriage 58 on the pivot-pin 51 while the carriage is in its upright inoperative position. During this rotary movement of the carriage 50 the spindle 96 is rotated by the engagement of its gear-teeth'99 with the rack 80 and the printing roller 2 is inked as it rolls on the inking roller |88. This movement of the carriage 50 is oontinued until the bearing roller 8| is in a position to enter the guideways 83 at one end of .the slot 82 in the base 23. The machine is then ready to perform a printing operation and the operator places the sales slip, card or other object to be printed on the arcuate face 34 of the platen 32 and, if duplicate copies are required, several sheets or slips are laid one over the other with carbon paper therebetween. The carriage 50 is then swung down into the position shownby dotted lines in Fig. 3 with the printing roller 2 adjacent the edge of the arcuate platen 32 and the bearing roller 8| engaging against the bearing plate 88 in the slot 82, as shown in Fig. 1.

The operator then rotates the carriage on the pivot-pin or spindle 51 by a transverse movement of the handle |80 and the printing roller 2 is moved across the arcuate face 34 of the platen 32 to imprint the prescribed indicia on the card or other record sheet. During the movement of the carriage 50 across the platen 32 the printing roller 2 is held in cooperative relationship therewith throughout the entire printing operation by the engagement of the bearing roller 8| with the transverse slot 82 in the base 23.

and arcuate plane of movement of the printingv roller 2.- The yieldable mounting of the platen has the effect to maintain the required pressure between the printing roller and the blank, while also rendering the platen self-adjusting for variations in the thickness of the material or the number of the blanks being operated upon.

At the completion of the printing operation the carriage 58 is rotated on the trunnions 66 and 61 away from the platen 32 to its inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 2, and thesales slip or printed blank may then be removed from the platen. In this inoperativeposition of the carriage, as above explained, the latching lever H8 may be withdrawn from engagement with the internal seat 8 on the printing roller 2 by eng'aging the end IH of the plunger |08.with the lug |34. This engagement slides the plunger |08 axially of the spindle 96 so that the pin |23 carried by the head portion of the plunger is moved in the cam-slot |22 to the position shown in Fig. 8 to release the latching lever ||8 from the collar 5 on the printing roller 2. The handle |30 is again depressed to release the pivoted bearing jaws |38 and |39 from the forward end of the printing roller 2. Th'e protective casing I2` may then be slipped over the roller 2 until the flange |0 at the end thereof is engaged in the groove I3 within the casing. The printing roller 2 is thus locked in the casing |2 and may then be removed from the machine to again fulfill its purpose as an identification token. At this juncture vthe machine is in condition to receive another printing roller which may be applied thereto as before explained.

The token may be carried in a hand bag, pocket or other receptacle with its casing protecting the printing roller from mutilation, while also preventing soillng the hands or staining the lining of the receptacle in which it is placed. Moreover, the protective casing I2 prevents unauthorized use of the token as its indicia is held secret and thus eliminates the danger of its being used to defraud.

It will be observed from the foregoing that our invention provides an emcient device for transferring and recording informatory or identifying indicia from a detachable token carried by a person to a sheet, card, envelope or other blank and for accomplishing the objects as first stated herein.

While the present token and printing machine have been herein described and illustrated as embodied in a preferred form of construction, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made therein and in the manner of their use without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting ourselves in this respect, we claim:

1. In a printing apparatus, the combination of an arcuate platen, a carriage mounted for arcuate movement over said platen, and a relatively small detachable printing roller on the carriage for cooperation with said platen and adapted to be personally carried as an identification token.

2. In a printing apparatus, the combination of an arcuate platen, a carriage mounted for movement about the axis of the platen arc, and a relatively small detachableV printing roller on the carriage having its axis parallel to the axis of the platen arc to adapt it for cooperation with the platen.

3. In a printing apparatus, the combination of an arcuate platen, a carriage mounted for arcuate movement. over said platen, a driving spindle on said carriage, a .printing roller drivably connected to the spindle, and means for rotating the driving spindle and roller when the carriage is moved over said platen.

4. In a printing apparatus, a support, a platen yieldably mounted on the support, a carriage mounted for movement over said platen, and a relatively small detachable printing roller on the carriage for cooperation with said platen, said platen being adapted to yield while holding a blank to be printed in contact with the roller.

5. In a printing apparatus, the combination of an arcuate platen, a carriage mounted for arcuate movement over said platen, a drivin-g spindle on said carriage having a pinion, a rack engaging the pinion, and a printing roller connected to the `spindle for cooperation with the platen, said printing roller being rotated by the pinion and rack connection when the carriage is moved on its mounting.

6. In a printing apparatus, the combination of a support, a platen on the support, a carriage, means for mounting the carriage on'the support for movement across the platen and alsoaway from the platen, a printing roller detachably mounted on the carriage for cooperation with the platen, and guiding means for holding the carriage in an operative printing position during its movement across the platen.

'7. In a printing apparatus, the combination of a support, a platen on the support, a carriage, means for mounting the carriage on the support for movement across the platen and also away from the platen, a printing roller detachably mounted on the carriage for cooperation with the platen, guiding means for holding the carriage in an operative printing position when moved across the platen, and means for rotating the printing roller during the movement of the carriage across the platen.

8. In a printing apparatus, a platen, a carriage, means for mounting the carriage for movement over said platen and also away from said platen, a printing roller on said carriage for cooperation with the platen, and means for guiding the carriage through a predetermined path during its movement over the platen to properly position the printing roller for cooperation therewith whereby to obtain a complete and uniform impression before the carriage can be moved away from the platen.

9. In a printing apparatus, a platen, a carriage, means for mounting the carriage for movement over said platenand also away from said platen, a printing roller on said carriage for cooperation with the platen, and guides for controlling the movement of the carriage in cooperative relation to the platen and in its movement to an inoperative position away from the platen.

10. In a printing apparatus, a support having a platen thereon, a carriage, a gimbal for mounting the carriage for movement in dierent directions on said support, a printing roller on the carriage for cooperation with the platen, and guiding means for controlling the movement of the carriage.

11. In-a printing apparatus, a support'having a platen thereon, a carriage having a spherical bearing, a socket in the support for receiving the spherical hearing of the carriage, a printing roller on the carriage for cooperation with the platen, and gnidetrays in the socket for controlling the movement ci the carriage to either hold the printing roller in operative position with respect to the platen or in its inoperative position away from the platen. f

12. In a printing apparatus, a standard having a platen thereon, a carriage having a spherical bearing, a socket in the standard for receiving the spherical bearing of the carriage, a driving spindie on the carriage having a pinion, a stationary racl: on the standard engaging the pinion, a

` for cooperation with the platen, and cooperating interengaging means on the roller and carriage automatically actuated to lociz the roller in operative position for rotation during the movement of the carriage across the platen.

14. In a printing apparatus, the combination of a, platen, a carriage mounted for movement over the platen, a quick-detachable printing roller on said carriage for cooperation with said platen, means for locking the printing' roller in operative position on the carriage during its movement across the platen, and means for releasing the roller after completion of its movement across the platen.

15. In a printing apparatus, a platen, a carriage mounted for movement over said platen and away from said platen, a quick-detachable printing roller on said carriage for cooperation with said platen, means for locking the printing roller in operative position on the carriage during its movement over the platen, and means vfor releasing the roller when the carriage is moved away from the platen.

16. In a printing apparatus, a platen, a carriage mounted for movement over said platen and away from said platen, a driving spindle on said carriage, a. quick-detachable printing roller adapted for connection with the driving spindle and cooperation with said platen, means for loci:- ing the printing roller to the spindle during the movement o1' the carriage over the platen, means for releasing the roller when the carriage is moved away from the platen, and guide means for controlling the movement of the carriage over said platen to hold the printing roller in cooperative relationship therewith. 1

17. In a. printing apparatus, a platen, a carriage mounted for movement with respect to said platen, a. printing roller mounted on said carriage and having locking means at one end, locking means on the carriage normally engaging the locking means on the roller, and means for actuating the locking means on the carriage to release the printing roller.

18. In a printing apparatus, a platen, a carriage mounted for movement with respect to said platen, a printing roller mounted on said carriage and provided with an internal locking flange, a resiliently-operated latch normally urged into engagement with the internal ilange on the roller, and means for moving the latch to an inoperative position.

19. In a printing apparatus, a platen, a carriage mounted for movement over the platen and upwardly away from the platen, a printing roller on said carriage having locking means thereon, a reslliently-operated latch normally urged into engagement with the locking means on the roller during movement of the carriage across the platen, and means operated by movement o the carriage away from the platen for actuating the latch to release the roller.

20. In a printing apparatus, a platen, a carriage mounted for movement with respect to said platen, a driving spindle on said. carriage, a printing roller mounted on said carriage and naving locking means at one end, means on the spindle engaging the locking means on the roller, and a plunger for actuating the locking means to release the printing roller.

2i. In a printing apparatus, a platen, a carriage mounted for movement with respect to said platen, a spindle on said carriage, a detachable printing roller adapted to be mounted on said carriage, interengaging means for drivably connecting the roller to the spindle, and additional cooperating means on the carriage and printing roller for selectively permitting the application of only those printing rollers intended for use with the carriage.

22. In a printing apparatus, a platen, a carriage mounted for movement with respect to said platen, a driving spindle on said carriage having an annular recess, aA detachable printing roller adapted to be mounted on said spindle, means for drivably connecting the roller with the spindle when its end is seated in the recess therein, and cooperating means in said recess and on said printing roller for permitting the seating of only those printing rollers intended for use with the spindle.

23. In a printing apparatus, a platen, a carriage mounted for movement with respect to said platen, a. hollow driving spindle on said carriage, a centering head positioned within said spindle to form an annular recess therebetween and having a flat side, a projection at the end of said recess spaced with respect to the iiat side ofthe centering head, and a detachable printing roller adapted for a driving vconnection with said spindie, said roller having a recess at one end of a contour corresponding to the annular recess in the spindle and the iiat side of the head.

24. In a printing apparatus, a platen, a carringe mounted for movement with respect to said platen, a hollow driving spindle on said carriage, a centering head within said spindle forming an annular recess therebetween, a detachable printing roller having an annular collar at one end for insertion into said recess, and a latch in said centering head for engagement with the collar.

25. In a printing apparatus, a platen, a carriage mounted for movement with respect to said platen, a driving spindle on said carriage, a printing roller, means for detachably locking one end of the printing roller in driving engagement with the spindle, means for rotatably supporting the opposite end of the roller in the carriage, and manually-operable means for releasing the locking means from the end of the roller.

26. In a printing apparatus, a standard including a. platen, a carriage mounted on said standard for traversing movement across said platen and also away therefrom, a. driving spindle on said carriage, a printing rollerfor cooperation with said platen, means for locking one end of the roller in driving engagement with the spindle, means for rotatably mounting the opposite end of the roller in the carriage, a guide to control the movement of the carriage during its traverse across the platen to hold the printing roller pressed against the Work, means for releasing the end of the roller from the spindle as the carriage is moved away from the platen, and manuallyoperable means for releasing the opposite end of the roller from its mounting.

27. In a printing apparatus, a platen, a carriage, means for mounting the carriage to rock about two axes at right-angles to each other to adapt it for movement across said platen and away from said platen, a printing roller on said carriage for cooperation with said platen, and an ink roller on said carriage engaging the periphery of the printing roller.

28. In a printing apparatus, a platen, a carriage, means for mounting the carriage to rock about two axes at right-angles to each other to adapt it for movement across said platen and away from said platen, a driving spindle on said carriage, a printing roller detachably locked in driving engagement with the spindle, an ink roller on said carriage engaging the periphery of the printing roller, and means for rotatingthe spindle to cause the printing roller to be inked by its contact with the ink roller.

29. In a printing apparatus, the combination oi a carriage, a printing roller, a casing for sheathing the roller, means to lock the casing to the roller, and means on the carriage for releasing the casing from locked engagement with 'the roller.

the casing from its locked engagement with the roller when the roller is moved into engagement with the driving element.

31. In a printing apparatus, they combination of a carriage, a driving element on said carriage having an annular recess therein, a printing roller having a peripheral flange, a casing for the roller `having resilient means for engaging the flange on the roller, and a collar surrounding the annular recess in the spindle and having a beveled edge for engagement with the resilient means on the casing to release the latter from its locked lengagement with the roller when the roller is moved longitudinally into the annular recess in the spindle.

32. In a printing apparatus, the combination of a carriage, a printing roller, a casing for sheathing the roller, means to lock the casing to the roller, and means on the carriage for releasing the casing from its locked engagement with the roller and locking the roller in operative position on the carriage.

for engaging the locking ange on the roller,

means on the carriage for expanding the end of the casing to release the printing roller, and means for locking the end of the roller in operative position on the carriage whereby the roller can only be removed from the casing by application to the apparatus.

35. In a printing apparatus, the combination of a support, an arcuate platen on the support, a carriage, means for mounting the carriage on the support to adapt it to rock about the axis of the platen arc d about an axis at right-angles tothe axis oi' the platen arc, and a printing roller detachably mounted' on the carriage ior'cooperation with the platen, said mounting for the carriage adapting it to move .across the platen to cause the roller to print and away from the platen to facilitate applying the roller to and removing it from the carriage. 36. Apparatus for identifying customers and recording identifying indicia comprising in combination a recording machine at the place where the customer is to be identified, a secret identication token adapted to be carried by the customer and used in the machine, said identiflcation token comprising a recording element, a detachable casing Wholly enclosing the rec'ording element and cooperating locking means on the recording element and casing, and means on the machine automatically operable to release the locking means when the token is applied in operative position thereon whereby the casing may be removed from the recording element to expose the identifying and recording indicia.

37. Apparatus for identifying customers and recording identifying indicia comprising in combination a recording machine at the place where the customer is to be identiiled, a secret identification token adapted to be carried by the customer and used in the machine, said identification token comprising a recording element, a detachable casing wholly enclosing the recording element and cooperating locking means on the recording element and casing, and means on the machine automatically operablel to release the locking means on the token and lock the recording element in operative position on the machine when the token is applied thereto whereby the casing may be removed to expose the identifying and recording indicia.

I ELMER W. DAVIS.

ARTHUR H. MAYNARD. 

